Machine for connecting hypodermic needles with mountings



Aug. 15,v 1961 w. J. HOLDERITH MACHINE FOR CONNECTING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES WITH MOUNTINGS Filed'` Mayy 24,4 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet INVEN TOR Wil/ima f. 1Y0/frh ug- 15, 1961 w. J. HOLDERITH 2,996,105

MACHINE FOR coNNEcTING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES; WITH MOUNTINGS Filed May 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 15, 1961 w. J. HoLDl-:RITH 2,995,105

MACHINE FOR CONNECTING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES WITH MOUNTINGS Filed May 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet V`3 INVENTOR Aug. 15, 1961 w..1. HOLDERITH 2,995,105

MACHINE FOR LCONNECTING `I-YFDERMIC NEEDLES WITH MOUNTINGS Fil-edMay 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Aug. 15, 1961 w..1. HOLDERITH MACHINE FOR CONNECTING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES WITH MOUNTINGS Filed May 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mlmllmmll nii l o i INVENTOR Milaan .[fa/czQ/Q/ Unite States 2,996,105 MACHINE FOR CONNECTING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES WITH MOUNTINGS William J. Holderith, Waldwick, N .J assigner to Becton,

Dickinson and Company, Rutherford, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 24, 1957, Ser. No. 661,532 3 Claims. (Cl. 154-1.6)

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved machine primarily intended to connect cannulae such as hypodermic needles with mounting members such as hubs in order to provide a needle assembly capable of being readily associated with a hypodermic syringe.

It is a primary object of the invention to produce a needle or syringe assembly which will have a one-time use, after which it will be discarded. In this manner a patient receiving an injection will have his tissue pierced by an veffectively sterilized needle which is free from contamination. Accordingly, there will be no danger of the patient becoming infected by the use of a needle which has been previously employed for hypodermic injection or similar purposes on a patient suffering from a condition such as infectious hepatitis.

To insure against an accidental or deliberate attempt to clean and sterilize an assembly for reuse, the present teachings contemplate a unit which when subjected to a sterilizing temperature (such as 212 F. or higher) will cause a destruction of the same to an extent such thatin the case of a needle assembly-it may not be properly mounted upon a hypodermic syringe barrel tip and/or will not form a proper connection with the tip. Also ity will ordinarily have its condition visibly altered so that anyone inspecting the needle will be immediately convinced it may not be used and will accordingly discard it.

It is a primary object of the invention to furnish a machine of relatively simple design and which machine may embrace a separate unit or be included with a grouping of preceding and succeeding machines such that even a complete assembly line is provided encompassing extremes such as the provision of a cannula and the packaging of the complete unit assembly.

An additional object is that of furnishing a machine which will operate with a minimum of manual supervision and by means of which large numbers of units may be made with assurance that the iinished assemblies will be perfect in all respects, the machine including relatively few components operating over long periods of time with freedom from all diiculties'.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

FIG. l is a transverse sectional view of a somewhat diagrammatic nature taken through a machine;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional plan view of that machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of certain of the details of the machine as illustrated in FIG. l and presented in enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of a preferred form of needle assembly as produced by the present machine;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional plan views in enlarged scale taken along the lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively, and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. l;

FIG. 7 isI a fragmentary sectional plan view of the end of one of the coating applying assemblies;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in enlarged detail a portion of the needle retaining member;

FIGS. 9 to 13, inclusive, are somewhat schematic views showing the position which the several components of the machine assume during successive stages in the operating cycle;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. l but showing an alternative layout of mechanism;

FIG. l5 is a partly sectional plan view of certain of that mechanism;

FIG. 16 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 16-16 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. l5;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary face view of certain of the mechanism as shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a similar view of a second portion of that mechanism; and

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary face view of a mechanism similar to that shown in FIGS. 14 et seq., but illustrating an optional form of construction which may be adopted;

FIG. 20 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of the element of the assembly taken along the line Ztl-20 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG'. 19; and

FIG. 2l illustrates' a cannula and hub prio-r to connection with each other and acted upon by a mechanism of the type shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.

As afore brought out, it is intended by machines constructed in accordance with the present invention to produce a needle assembly including a cannula and a mounting therefor and which assembly will be rendered nonrusable if it is subjected to a suiciently high temperature to etfect or to attempt to eifect sterilization. The mounting, according to the preferred exempliiication, will involve a hub. To secure the desired result, the material from which this hub is formed and/or the adhesive employed to bond the hub to the cannula or needle will distort when subjected to a temperature of around 212 F. By suitably compounding the materials providing the bond or mounting, higher and lower critical temperatures may be achieved. Accordingly, when a particular set temperature is reached, the mounting itself will change its' shape to an extent such that it may be visibly nonusable for the purpose of achieving a hypodermic injection or else the bonding layer will be destroyed so that the needle is no longer connected to its mounting. The preferred form will be adhered toin the drawings of this grant and in the following description. Except where otherwise dened by the claims, however, this is to be taken in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense in that by using materials different from those hereinafter described, needle assemblies' may be produced which may be repeatedly autoclaved and also needles may be furI nished in which the mounting comprises parts other than a hub to be detachably coupled to the tip of a syringe barrel.

Thus, attention is primarily directed to FIG. 4 in which a preferred form of the finished assembly of the unit has been illustrated, as well as in FIG. 21, in which the parts have been shown in process of attachment. In those views the numeral 20 indicates a cannula the outer end of which is sharpened and pointed as as 21 to furnish a tissue-piercing portion. The mounting for the cannula in this view embraces a hub 22 preferably including a bore 23 which is tapered to an extent corresponding to the tapering of the conventional tip of a syringe barrel. Accordingly the hub may receive that tip and frictionally engage the same to be retained thereby and also to furnish a fluid-tight coupling with the tip. Adjacent its outer edge hub 22 may provide a flange or flange portion 24 having a configuration such that they may cooperate with the threads of a more or less conventional Lucr-type fitoting. The end of the main hub portion 22 is continued in the form of a neck to receive the base end of the cannula;,the outer edge of the neck being rounded as shown. Intervening these portions is an apertured flange 25; the diameter of this aperture being preferably substantially equal to the diameter of the lumen of the needle. A layer of adhesive 26 serves to bond the inner end of the needle to the hub.

Now referring to FIG. l, it will be seen that the numeral 27 indicates a suitably supported deck portion from which mounting 2S extends upwardly. These carry at their upper ends a control which in the present exemplitication is preferably an air cylinder 29. As indicated a piston is disposed within this cylinder and has connected to it a rod 30. The latter is pivotally coupled as at 31 to a bracket assembly 32. That assembly supports a control again illustrated as an air cylinder 3f:- mounting a piston (not shown) to which a rod 35 is connected. Braces such as 137 conveniently extend between the deck 27 and the upper end of cylinder 29 to prevent the latter from vibrating.

Still with reference to FIG. l, it will be seen that a bracket 33 is included in assembly 32. Also, a suitable number of extensions 36 provide support for a hori- Zontal pivot member 37. Links 38 are mounted intermediate their ends by member 37 and have their upper ends pivotally connected by a member 39 to rod 3S. Aixed to the lower ends of links 38 is one element of a gripping mechanism embracing a transversely extending bar 46 which as shown in FIG. 6 mounts a gripping strip preferably in the form of a yielding body such as a rubber cylinder or tube 41 which extends beyond its inner edge. Mounted in line with bar 40 by a suitable extension of the bracket assembly is a second bar 42 providing the other element of the gripping mechanism. The detailed structure of the latter has been shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 and preferably includes upper and lower ange portions notched as at 43 and between which a groove 44 exists. As will be obvious from FIG. 8 the width of groove 44 is such that the rubber strip or other yielding member 41 mounted by bar 40 may extend into the groove 44 so that a cannula 20 extending transversely of the bars will be gripped by the yielding support furnished by member 41 and the crotch portions of the notches 43. In this manner a needle-gripping structure is furnished.

It is preferred that needles to be gripped be mounted upon a cannulae support such as a rack of the type illustrated in FIG. 2. In that view it will be seen that the rack includes a preferably strip shaped body 45 formed with a series of recesses 46 in its forward edge. The base portions of each of these recesses are contoured to furnish a peak or projecting part 47. A spring 48 extends across each of the recesses and adjacent the projecting or peaked part 47 so that each recess is divided into compartments of different areas. The base portions of cannulae 20 are disposed within the smaller of these compartments and are retained therein by being forced into engagement with the adjacent surfaces of the recesses 46 including the peaked portion 47 by springs 48. This engagement of the cannulae in each instance will result in their being supported in properly spaced positions with respect to each other and one within each of the recesses. Their bodies will extend perpendicular to the upper surface of the strip. At properly spaced points upon deck 27 supports 49 extend upwardly. These present adjacent their upper ends transversely extending recesses or slots 50 of a width adequate to accommodate the ends of the rack strip 45. The spacing of supports 49 is such that the end edges of the rack 45 will bear against surfaces defining these recesses and thus prevent longitudinal shifting or" the rack. The degree of inward movement ot this needle rack into the recesses is preferably limited by adjustable stops l so that an operator in setting up the machine may adjust the part to assure a proper disposition of the rack with reference to the other elements of the machine.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be observed that above the deck 27 a mounting 52 is preferably provided.

Suitably supported adjacent the same is a further control 53 which again may be in the form of an air cylinder. Connected to the piston of the latter is a rod 54 to which is secured a block 55. An adjustable stop member in the form of a bolt 56 is carried by block 55. Connected to an extension of the bracket assembly 32 is a stop member 57. Block 55 may be guided by portions 58 to have movements transverse of the support 52. When fully projected both S6 or its equivalent will be brought by block 55 to a position at which it underlies the stop member 57, as shown in FIG. l2. That stop member as is clear from FIG. 3 extends adjacent the support 59 which mounts bar 42.

Attention is next invited to FIGS. 2 and 5 taken in conjunction with FIG. 3. In those views it will be seen that at a point underlying and between supports 49 a support 6() is provided upon deck 27. This support may mount a suitable member of adjustable rest portion 61 conveniently in the form of threaded and headed plugs. Resting upon the latter is a support for the mountings to receive the cannulae. As illustrated, this is a hub rack 62. Projecting above this unit and forming a part of the same are a series of projections which have congurations corresponding to the tips of Syringe barrels. Accordingly they may beo received within the bores 23 of mounting members such as hub 22 and will serve to support the same in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Adjustable stops assurring the proper positioning of the hub rack are conveniently furnished by utilizing a pair of bolts 64 having threaded engagement with the rear wall of support 60 and bearing against the adjacent face of the rack member. Similar bolts may extend through the end walls defining the supports 49. These bolts have been indicated at 65 and bear against the ends of rack 62. It is apparent that by properly adjusting supports 61 and bolts 64 and 65, receiving surfaces are defined which will assure a proper disposition of rack 62 with reference to the other components 0f the machine.

A further control or power actuator again preferably in the form of an air cylinder 66, is pivotally supported as at 67 adjacent the underside of deck 27. Connected to its piston is a rod 68 which is pivotally coupled as at 69 to an extension of a supporting assembly 70. The latter carries a crank or cranks 71 which are pivotally coupled as at 72 to, for example, the side members which mount deck 27. It is thus obvious that when control 66 is operated to shift rod 68 in one direction the supporting assembly 70 will be rocked downwardly around pivot 72 to the position shown in full lines in FIG. l. When the control is operated to shift rod 63 to its opposite extreme position, then the supporting assembly will be moved upwardly through an are around pivot 72 to occupy the position shown in dot and dash lines in FIG. l. This supporting assembly serves as a mounting for one form of adhesive-applying mechanism.

That mechanism as particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a support 73 forming a part of the structure heretofore designated under the numeral 70. Mounted by support 73 are collars 74. It is intended in the present illustration to utilize adhesive involving two different components. To this end the main series of collars 74 will have extending from them pairs of cannulae 7S and 76. The tubes or elements 75 will be relatively long and the tubes 76 will be relatively short. They will diverge at angles to the axes of collars 74 as shown especially in FIG. 2. Therefore, a relatively long tube mounted by one collar will extend towards and in substantially overlapping relationship with a relatively short tube carried by an adjacent collar. The end collars of this series may simply support single tubes; one as at 75 being relatively long and the other as at 76 being relatively short. The free ends of these elements, which are preferably formed of steel, have the delivery ends of their bores in their side faces. This has been especially shown in FIG. 7.

Support 73 is formed with channels 78 which connect with a pair of ducts or channels forming a part of each of the collars 74 of the main series. These channels at their rear ends connect with manifolds 79. Tapered bores may be formed in the support and accommodate the tips 80 of a pair of expelling members 81 conveniently in the form of syringe barrels. Each one of these barrels will contain one of the components of the adhesive. Those compondents will be in plastic or substantially uid form. Therefore one component will be capable of being forced through one of the manifolds 79 while the other is similarly transmitted through the second manifold. T hence they will pass through passages 78 to the hubs 74 to ilow respectively through one of the tubes 75 or 76 and be discharged from their ends 77. Those ends as illustrated especially in FIG. 7 face towards each other in a given pair (i.e., tubes of adjacent collars). Therefore a tube disposed between a pair of the collars 74 at a point inwardly of the outer end of the shorter tube 76 will receive adhesive material upon its opposite faces as the needle is shifted outwardly with respect to the tube series.

A suitable mechanism for assuring a proper distribution of the desired material in this manner has been generally shown in FIG. 1. In that view it will be noted each of the barrels 81 is provided with a plunger from which an actuator S2 extends outwardly. The ends of these actuators are engaged by screw threaded rods 83. These rods are slidably supported against rotation by passing through bores in a block S4. Conveniently keys and keyways are employed for this purpose. Each of the rods is encircled by a worm wheel 85 having a threaded bore. A common worm 86 may serve to rotate wheels 85. Conveniently this worm is affixed to a shaft to which a pinion or gear 87 is secured. The teeth of the latter mesh with a corresponding gear secured for rotation with an annular ratchet 88. The teeth of the latter are engaged by a pawl which is urged by a spring towards them and is pivotally supported upon a lever 90 having one end pivotally coupled with a lever 91. The latter is pivotally supported at 92 by, for example, one of the walls or supports for `deck 27. The axis of ratchet wheel 88 is, of course, fixed with respect to block 84. Therefore, it is apparent that with each swinging movement of the supporting assembly 70 in one direction, pawl S9 will override the teeth of ratchet 88 while swinging movement in an opposite direction will cause the ratchet 83 to be rotated. This will result in worm 86 being correspondingly moved to project rod 83 and accordingly actuators 82 to advance the pistons secured thereto and force material from barrels S1 into manifold 79.

It is preferred to employ an adhesive which will embrace a resin. The substance of the adhesive should be fluid, i.e., suiciently plastic so that it will flow with adequate freedom and spread evenly over the surfaces in the manner previously described. According to a preferred embodiment the adhesive should embrace suitable cornponents, such as a basis resin and a heat catalyst such as BFS. A mixture such as the foregoing can be stored under cool temperatures Afor one or two months without deteriorating. A second component forms a part of the adhesive. This will embrace a proper number of parts of a suitable hardener. By itself it will keep indefinitely. When mixed with the proper resin (with or without BF3) it sets resin in 20 to 30 minutes.

As a-fore brought out the adhesive desirably includes separate components as afore outlined. While these components when intermixed will set to provide a proper bonding layer such as Z6 in FIG. 4, it is preferred that such setting be accelerated by exposing the mixture to the action of heat. That heat will be applied or the bonding material will be otherwise set in operations subsequent to those performed by the present machine. It will, of course, also be understood that in lieu of separate components the adhesive may involve a mixture providing a single component. In that case it will be unnecessary to employ separate applying elements. As at present viewed,

it is definitely preferred however, to employ these separate components.

Now considering the operation of the machine as heretofore described, reference is primarily had to the diagrammatic views under FIGS. 9 to 13, inclusive. In these views it has been assumed that power controls or operating mechanisms such as 29, 34, 53 and 66 are ernployed. Whether or not these controls be in the nature of air cylinders as shown is immaterial in that various functionally equivalent mechanisms may be employed. In order not to confuse the illustration air lines have not been shown as connected to the several cylinders. Also, controls have not been illustrated which could be manually or automatically actuated. It is apparent that in the case of air cylinders valve assemblies would suiice to govern the flow into or escape from either end of the cylinders. With this in mind reference is primarily had to FIG. 9.

In that view it has been assumed that a rack such as 45 carrying a series of cannulae has been disposed between the supports 49. Controls 34, 53 and 66 are maintaining the gripping mechanism provided by bars 4) and 42 in inoperative or open position, block 55 in retracted position and the mounting assembly 70 in the position shown in full lines in FIG. l. Control 29 has been operated to project the rod 30 and the bracket assembly 33. Under these circumstances bars 4tl and 42 are separated a maximum extent and they are being lowered to occupy positions to opposite sides of the series of cannulae mounted byrack 45. It is to be observed that one each of the needles is aligned with the notches 43 formed in bar 42 so that as the latter is lowered the needleswithout damage to their pointswill rest in notches.

This condition has been illustrated in FIG. l0. As Will be appreciated in that view the needles extend across the groove 44 of bar 42 and have their opposite ends projecting beyond the upper and lower faces of the bar. Bar 40 will remain out of a position immediately adjacent the needles and the rack 45 will be retained within the recesses 5t). Under these conditions the governing mechanism for control 34 is operated.

With such operation piston rod 35 will be projected to swing the upper end of link 38 in a clockwise direction around pivot 37. This will have the result that the parts will assume the position illustrated in FIG. ll in which strip 41 intimately bears against the outer surface of the needles and forces them into notches 43 so that these needles are gripped. Thereupon, either manually or by an automatically operated governing mechanism, control 29 is energized to retract rod 30. This will have the result of withdrawing the gripped needles from association with rack 45. The upward movement of the gripped series of needles will continue until they are substantially spaced from the plane of that rack.

The adhesive applying mechanism will now be shifted to operative position as also shown in lFIG. 11. To this end control 66 will be suitably energized to swing the mounting assembly 7 d from the station shown in full lines in FIG. l to that illustrated in dot and dash lines. So shifted the axes of the needles will align with the spaces existing between a pair of tubes 75-76 mounted by adjacent collars '74. At this time the empty rack 45 may be removed either manually or mechanically.

Control 29 is now operated to again cause a lowering or projection of bracket assembly'33. Simultaneously with or immediately preceding this operation, control 53 has been energized to project rod 54. So projected block 55 has been shifted to the right soV that contact portions 56 or their equivalents underlie stops 57 carried by the bracket assembly. Therefore, with the lowering of that assembly a limit is imposed upon the movement of the parts which will arrest projection of the unsharpened ends of the needles in a plane immediately below that occupied by the wiping elements 75 and 76. The position ofthe latter has been shown in FIG. 12 in dash lines.

Also in that view it has been indicated that control 66 has been energized to swing the mounting assembly 70 in a clockwise direction. With such swinging a pair of elements 75 and 76 will have wipingly engaged zones of the needle spaced substantially 180 from each other to deposit upon these surfaces the different components of the adhesive.

During all of the foregoing operations the needle remains gripped between the jaws or bars 40 and 42.

This also continues throughout the stage of operation shown in FIG. 13. In that view it will be seen that control 53 has been energized to retract block 55 to an inoperative position. Bracket assembly 33 has lowered to a point where the base end of the needles overlaps the zone of the neck portions of the hubs or other mounting members. A rack such as 62 carrying a proper series of these mountings has, of course, previously been disposed upon support 61. With a proper relationship of the parts established, the lowering of the bracket assembly has resulted in the base end of the needles being inserted into the neck portion of the mounting members therefore to points at which these ends rest against flanges 25. It is, of course, apparent that as this insertion and telescoping of the parts has occurred, the separate components of adhesive have engaged against the bore surface of the hub or other mounting member to wipe against the same and be evenly distributed throughout the socket portion receiving the needle. Also the components have been inter-mixed. Therefore, a suitable adhesive compound has been provided intervening the outer face of needle 20 and the inner face of the neck portion of the hub or its equivalent throughout the zone of overlap of these parts.

This layer will provide the bonding layer 26. That layer will be sufficiently non-fluid that it will maintain the needle with which it is in contact in proper relationship with its mounting member or huh and with the latter supported by the rack 62. Therefore, control 34 may now be operated to retract rod 35 and swing link 38 to a point where the jaws are open as in FIG. 9. With those jaws clearing the surfaces of the needles, control 29 may be operated to retract rod 30 thus elevating bracket assembly 33. This will bring the parts from the position shown in FIG. 13 to that illustrated in FIG. 9. Therefore, either by a manual or mechanical removal of rack 62 or its equivalent and a replacement of rack 45 with a fresh series of needles in it, the entire cycle of operation may be repeated.

It may be desired to employ an adhesive-applying mechanism different from that described and in which the components of the adhesive are applied by rollers rather than wiping cannula 75 and 76. An alternative form of mechanism of this type has been illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 18, inclusive. Referring primarily to FIG. 14, it will be seen that the machine as generally heretofore described is similar to the apparatus illustrated in this figure for which reason identical reference numerals have been applied to similar parts. Similarly, a control cylinder 93 may be pivotally supported as at 94 adjacent the under face of the deck 20 and connect through its piston with a coupling extending from the rear face of a mounting plate 96. The latter may be supported by an arm 97 pivotally coupled as at 9S to one of the side walls of the assembly or to a supporting structure forming a part of the same.

Contrary, however, to the wiping mechanism heretofore described, the plate will carry, for example, on its outer face a control 99 which again may be an air cylinder and which has a connecting rod coupled to a rack 100 mounted for reciprocation along the face of plate 96. ln common with the controls heretofore described, governing mechanism will be present so that by manual or automatic operation, rack 100 may be caused to reciprocate.

A gear 101 is rotatably supported upon the outer face of plate 96 and has its teeth meshing with the teeth of Iwith FIGS. 14 to 18 inclusive.

3 rack bar 100. Also mounted upon the outer face of this plate is a gear 102 which is driven by ear 101 and serves to drive a pulley 103. Encircling the latter is a cord or other suitable flexible connecting element 104. This passes around guide wheels or pulleys 105 arranged adjacent the upper end of supporting plate 96. As shown especially in FIG. l5 the ends of element 104 are connected to an abutment 106 by means of interposed springs 107. 'Ihat abutment forms a part of carriage 108 and extends through a slot formed in plate 96. Carriage 10S is supported for horizontal movement by, for example, a guide bar 109.

The carriage is formed with a groove in that face of its body which extends toward plate 96. Secured to the plate and projecting into that groove is a rack bar 110. The teeth of the latter are engaged by the teeth of gears 111 rotatably mounted by the carriage. Those gears in turn serve to drive pinions 112 secured to shafts rotatably mounted by the carriage. Each of shafts 113 mounts an adhesive-applying wheel or disc, the two separate discs having been designated 113 and 114 and each extending beyond the rear face of the carriage 108. It therefore follows that as the carriage is reciproeated over the face of plate 96 by means of element 104 or its equivalent, that gears 111 will be rotated to correspondingly turn wheels 113 and 114.

Therefore, if bracket assembly 33 is in lowered position as in FIG. 14 and in accordance with the sequence of operations heretofore described, mounting 96 is in the position shown in full lines in that gure, wheels or discs 113 and 114 will extend to positions at which they contact the base zones of the needles 2t) gripped between the jaws 40 and 42. Therefore, with the operation of control 99 carriage 108 is reciprocated and these wheels or discs sequentially traverse the entire series of needles.

It is preferred that the adhesive involve separate cornponents as heretofore described. To this end the carriage may mount or include as an integral part, two reservoirs 115 in the form of barrels. At least the outer ends of these units may be screw threaded to cooperate with the threaded shank 116 of plungers. Wheels 113 and 114 extend respectively into the base zones of the bores included in members 115. Therefore, material (such as adhesive components) will surround the rear peripheral portions of these discs or wheels. Accordingly they will be coated with the substance. As the carriage is reciprocated the wheels will be rotated to carry on their peripheries the desired substance. Any excess of that material will be wiped off by blades 117 (FIG. l5) carried by members 115 for this purpose. The wheels or discs being disposed in different planes, it therefore follows that as the carriage is moved each one of the needles will receive on its outer face and at points spaced from cach other the different components dispensed by the wheels or discs. These components will be intermixed and a proper bonding layer established as the base portions of the needles are seated within the next portions of the hubs or other mounting units in the manner heretofore traversed.

It has been found in the application of the adhesive, and if the latter includes components such as adhesive and a hardener, that the former has a tendency to explode out of the hub when heat is applied. Also, it may close the lumen of the cannula. To overcome this ditliculty, it has been found expedient to apply the adhesive to an area of the cannula within the hub and short of the end of the needle-receiving socket thereof. r[he hardener is applied also within the area of the socket and to either side of the resin. In this manner, if the resin explodes or tends to creep, it will be confined by the hub.

A structure by means of which an application of materials in the manner aforedescribed may be achieved has been shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The structure there depicted may correspond generally or in detail to the mechanism especially shown and aforedescribed in connection However, in lieu of the discs or wheels 113 and 114, elements 150 and 151 are secured to the shaft mounting the pinions 112. Elements 150 may include a wheel or disc having its edge zone anged so that peripherally extending and spaced portions are provided. Element 151 may be a simple disc or wheel. If necessary the detailed structure of the material-supplying mechanism as heretofore shown in FIG. 15 may be modified to assure a proper coating of the peripheral anges of element 150.

If this mechanism is operated to traverse a series of needles 20 prior to the latter being introduced into the hubs or other mountings and as shown, for example, in FIG. 12, then a result such as has been illustrated in FIG. 21 will be achieved. More particularly, areas of the cannula face adjacent its base will be coated as at 152 by means of element 150. aAn intervening area will be coated as at 153 by element 151. Now when the base of the cannula is introduced into the socket of the mounting which is to receive it, the desired wiping and intermixing eiect will be achieved. However, when heat is subsequently used to accelerate the setting of the bond between the needle and its mounting any tendency of the resin to explode out of the hub or close the cannula will be prevented by the inner and outer layers of hardener which conne it. Thus, the difficulties heretofore noted are completely overcome.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the character described comprising in combination: a cannulae support including means for providing initial accurate spaced alignment and support of a row of cannulae; cannulae associated therewith and supported thereby; a second support including means for providing correspondingly spaced alignment and support of a row of bored mountings; bored mountings associated therewith and supported thereby to have their bores extend parallel to each other; a cannulae-gripping mechanism comprising a pair of bars extending parallel and movable with respect to each other, a pair of anges extending outwardly from a surface of one bar facing in the direction of the other and each formed with pairs of vertically spaced cannulae-receiving notches spaced from each other a distance corresponding to the spacing of the supported cannulae and mountings; means for relatively moving the cannulae support and gripping mechanism to dispose said bars one to each side of said row of cannulae; further means for moving said bars toward each other to cause the cannulae to be individually disposed one within each of a vertically spaced pair of said notches and retained therein in parallel relationship by engagement of the cannulae with the second bar, said first named moving means thereupon functioning to again move the gripping mechanism and cannulae support with respect to each other to simultaneously withdraw from the latter a row of cannulae now retained by the gripping mechanism with the lower zones of such cannulae exposed below said bars; adhesive-dispensing means; means for causing the latter to apply adhesive to the exposed zones of the cannulae; said first named moving means thereupon moving said gripping mechanism with respect to the mountings to insert the adhesive-coated zones of said cannulae into the mounting bores by lowering them into the same and said further moving means thereupon shifting said bars away from each other to release the cannulae gripped thereby.

p 2. In a machine of the character defined in claim 1, said flanges providing between them a groove, a yielding body carried by the other bar, and said yielding body having a width such that it projects into said groove to press the cannulae into said notches.

3. In a machine as dened in claim 1, said means lfor causing movements of said adhesive-dispensing means with respect to the gripping mechanism causing .a shifting of said dispensing means to move longitudinally of the entire row of cannulae.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,989 Green Aug. 8, 1933 1,928,714 Whitney et al. Oct. 3, 1933 2,672,837 Maher Mar. 23, 1954 2,702,037 Walter Feb. 15, 1955 2,755,840 Bartley July 24, 1956 2,787,314 Anderson Apr. 2, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 160,527 Australia Ian. 12, 1955 

